Friday

Okay, so things keep happening that are directly related to this post and this podcast. Since then, I have been looking around for examples of folks who add value to their work by letting us have a peek at their process and ,sometimes, their life.

Today I visited Aprons and Hammers, the blog of Emma Greenwood, which I do on a weekly basis. Emma makes incredible shoes and she blogs about all manner of things, but today was extra special. Today there was this sweet little video of Emma doing something called "lasting" which involves pounding shoe-making tacks into leather. It's a short video, a static shot, no narration. It was just a video of Emma doing what she does...making shoes. But three things put this seemingly simple video in the awesome category. 1. It's a fascinating technique that you never get to see. 2. Emma is really good at it. It's a pleasure to watch the absolute certainty of her movements as she works her way around the shoe. 3. It makes you realize the tremendous amount of work that goes into a pair of shoes, effectively making the price tag seem like a bargain.

This is the simple kind of value-adding activity that I've found myself talking about so much lately. I think anybody who aspires to make money from their work could certainly benefit from taking a page from Emma's playbook. Sometimes the making is just as fascinating as the end result and if we, the buyers, can see even a little of it through your lens, we, or at least I, will be much more willing to open my wallet. If Emma keeps this up, I would be entirely surprised if she didn't find herself inundated with orders for custom-made shoes. Bravo.

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Paul Overton is a prolific blogger, maker, writer, and ukulele player living in Hardwick, MA with three dogs, his closest co-conspirator, and a lawn that makes his octogenarian neighbors want to call the authorities. He delights in the unusual and can often be found in his tiny studio, whipping up some sort of self-indulgent nonsense for his own amusement.

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DudeCraft represents a different kind of tribe in the world of making things, intentionally blurring the lines between, art, craft, engineering, and the good old “Can Do” spirit. Makers of all stripes are welcome here and are encouraged to join the conversation, no matter what their enthusiasms. Guys who knit, girls who weld, it’s all the same on DudeCraft. We are people who make cool stuff, have an urge to share it, and don’t mind explaining how we did it, so that other folks can benefit from our experience.